Do you have Chemical X? | Wesley Chan | TEDxUTP
The speaker asserts that finding one's true passion, or "Chemical Act," is achieved by understanding the "why" behind one's life, drawing inspiration from childhood moments and comparing it to finding a "perfect fit" dress. He shows this journey through anecdotes—from the Powerpuff Girls to speaking to thousands of students—culminating in the realization that true purpose is about having the strength to say, "You can do it too." ## Speakers & Context - Speaker: Trainer, speaker, and author; structured talk around personal self-discovery, referencing superheroes and "Chemical X." - **John**: English teacher who left University Technology (UTP) in 2011, featured in a story about "The Law of Attraction." - **Dad**: Speaker's father, questioned the speaker about rejecting job offers to pursue speaking. - **Actress**: Young, pretty, short, fair girl in her 20s, told the speaker her voice can heal people's hearts. - **Artist**: Person who told the speaker a story about flying balloons. - **Chancellor Hall attendees**: People present during the passing out ceremony where the speaker first saw the "Transer award." ## Theses & Positions - Passion is represented by a catalyst called *Chemical X*, which moves a person to break fear, break obstacles, and learn what they do. - All successful people interviewed gave the answer: "I don't know, I just know what I do." - Successful people do not like what they do, but they love what they do. - The speaker’s core message is that his biggest career meaning comes from hearing others say, "Wesley you changed my life." - The speaker’s greatest purpose is to be the person who can tell others, *"You can do it too."* - One must possess a "vision" in addition to being original to find one's calling. - The two most important days in life are *"the day you are born and the day you know why."* ## Concepts & Definitions - **Chemical X**: An ingredient, likened to the one in the Powerpuff Girls, representing passion or the catalyst for change. - **Superpower**: Abilities used to fight crime or achieve fulfillment, analogous to passion. - **Career Meaning**: The underlying purpose or reason for one's professional life. - **Vision**: A world in one's mind that one imagines so real; exemplified by MLK's *"I see a world I have a dream."* - **Chemical Act**: The state or realization of one's true calling or passion. ## Mechanisms & Processes - **Chemical X Effect:** The internal catalyst that motivates an individual to overcome fear, break obstacles, and actively learn their purpose. - **Career Meaning Discovery:** The process of interviewing successful achievers across Malaysia, finding a consistent pattern that pointed toward a deeper, unarticulated meaning. - **Balloon Metaphor:** Two flying balloons symbolize the act of letting yourself free; the presence of clouds suggests imperfection or condition. - **Finding the Perfect Fit (Dressing Metaphor):** The necessity of trying items until the heart signals a "perfect fit," rather than settling for what is merely "good enough." - **Initiation of Passion:** The journey of discovery, which starts with childhood inspiration (Powerpuff Girls) and is traced through mentors and setbacks. ## Timeline & Sequence - **Childhood**: The speaker remembers watching *Powerpuff Girls* every Sunday morning at 10:00 AM, asking his mother what *Chemical X* was. - **2008**: Year the speaker saw the *Transer award* at Chancellor Hall, leading him to set a goal of returning in 4 years. - **4 Years After 2008**: The speaker revisited the location, solidifying his commitment to his dream. - **A Few Months After the Award**: Visit to an orphanage home in Clan Kaa where he met a woman he considered a "superhero." - **Chinese New Year (February 2013)**: Time the speaker was questioned by relatives about life milestones (marriage, career). - **1:00 AM**: Time the speaker returned home after a tiring day of training, encountering his older self and father. - **9:00 AM on a Wednesday Morning**: Time the speaker was driving when his father cried and reassured him of his pride. ## Named Entities - **UTP**: University Technology (Institution attended by the speaker). - **Chancellor Hall**: Location where the speaker saw the *Transer award* in 2008. - **Clan Kaa**: Location of the orphanage home visit. - **LSA**: Location where the speaker met the actress. - **Mr. John**: English teacher who left UTP in 2011, featured in a story about "The Law of Attraction." - **Blossom, Bubbles, Buttercup**: The Powerpuff Girls characters. - **Martin Luther King**: Quoted for the phrase, *"I see a world I have a dream."* ## Numbers & Data - Age when watching Powerpuff Girls: **7**. - Date of Chancellor Hall award sighting: **2008**. - Wait period/Goal setting: **4 years**. - Number of girls at the orphanage: **17**. - Total students spoken to across Malaysia: **30,000**. - Duration of dialysis treatment: **20 minutes** each time, three times a day. - Age range of the actress: **20s**. - Date of domestic confrontation: **February 2013**. - Time of returning home after training: **1:00 in the morning**. - Time of father's crying incident: **9:00 in the morning on a Wednesday morning**. - Number of students at UTP presentation: **40**. ## Examples & Cases - **Powerpuff Girls Origin**: Created with *"Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice"* plus *"Chemical X"* by Professor Utonium. - **Orphanage Visit**: Meeting the lady in her 50s who treated dialysis patients, whom the speaker termed a "superhero" because she helped **17 girls**. - **LSA Encounter**: Meeting an actress who stated her voice can heal people's hearts. - **Balloon Story**: An artist telling a story about two flying balloons representing freedom. - **Domestic Confrontation**: Speaker's father questioning his decision to reject the "best engineering student in UTP" offer to become a speaker. - **UTP Presentation**: Mr. John presenting on "The Law of Attraction" to **40** students; the speaker was the final presenter. - **The Journey:** The progression from the initial *Chemical X* curiosity to developing the *vision board* and eventually reaching the speaking stage. ## Trade-offs & Alternatives - **Engineering vs. Speaking Career:** The choice between being the "best engineering student in UTP" versus pursuing a life of inspiring others. - **The Two Paths:** The moment of choice when facing two options: "to leave other people's tree" or "to leave your [dream]." - **Good Enough vs. Perfect Fit:** The process of choosing clothes, where one must move past what is "good enough" to find the "perfect fit." ## Counterarguments & Caveats - **Initial Lack of Knowledge**: The initial inability of his mother, teachers, or lecturers to define *Chemical X*. - **Success Definition:** The common initial assumption that successful people's paths are singular, which is refuted by their consensus "I don't know, I just know what I do." - **Caution on Talent:** A warning that some individuals discover their talent but fail to *"step up."* ## Methodology - **Interviewing**: Questioning successful achievers across Malaysia about their path to success. - **Observation/Experience**: Personal recounting of significant life events, such as the Chancellor Hall ceremony or the father's reaction. - **Reflection**: Analyzing memories to establish patterns, such as linking the 2008 award to the current career. ## References Cited - **Powerpuff Girls**: The source material for the *Chemical X* analogy. - **Martin Luther King**: Quoted for *"I see a world I have a dream."* - **Book Advice**: *"When you do the best God will handle the rest."* ## Conclusions & Recommendations - **Actionable Advice**: If one has found their passion, they must *"just do it."* - **Path for Uncertainty**: If passion is not yet found, the advice is to *"look for the next dress."* - **Key Takeaway**: The day one finds their *Chemical Act* is the day they will transform; the two most important days are *"the day you are born and the day you know why."* ## Implications & Consequences - Ignoring the "why" traps an individual in a state of professional uncertainty. - Recognizing one's inner drive leads to transformation and the ability to mentor others effectively. - True calling allows one to see clearly on others, making them unique. ## Open Questions - What is the exact nature of *Chemical X*? - How can one accurately map their *Chemical Act* if they are currently unsure of their passion? ## Verbatim Moments - *"Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice."* - *"Chemical X."* - *"I don't know, I just know what I do."* - *"Transer award."* - *"I see a world I have a dream."* - *"You can do it too."* - *"The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you know why."* - *"I don't care if you're from Malaysia other world different color."* - *"When I did the best God will handle the rest."*